Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTR8M4KNNKN2HXRZEAZZXFC

The sign above the entrance creaked in the gentle evening breeze, the distinctive green neon of The Raven's Nest beckoning passersby into the dimly lit world within. Aurora "Rory" Carter navigated the crowded bar with ease, dodging a group of raucous revelers near the pool table. She made her way to the counter, exchanging a warm smile with the bartender as she claimed her usual stool. "You working tonight, Si?" she asked, running a hand through her straight black hair as she leaned against the polished wood. Silas Blackwood looked up from behind the bar, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he returned her smile. His grey-streaked auburn hair and neatly trimmed beard made him look every inch the distinguished gentleman he'd become. For a moment, they simply regarded each other, the air thick with unspoken history. And then, without warning, the door swung open and a young woman strode into the bar. Tall, with a striking bright blue gaze and shoulder-length black hair, she moved with a confident air that drew the eye. Rory's heart skipped a beat as she took in the stranger's features, her mind racing to place the face. The woman's eyes scanned the room, locking onto Rory with a flash of recognition. A slow smile spread across her face, and she began to weave through the crowd with an ease that belied her obvious youth. As she drew closer, Rory felt a jolt of disquiet, her mind racing with memories long buried. "Eva?" Rory's voice caught on the edge of a question, her hand faltering as she reached for her drink. Eva's smile faltered for an instant, before she launched herself across the bar, wrapping Rory in a tight hug. "Rory, oh my god, it's been ages!" Rory's initial stiffness melted beneath Eva's warm grip, and she found herself hugging her old friend back with equal fervor. For a moment, they simply held each other, the tension between them palpable. As they pulled back, Rory's eyes locked onto Eva's, searching for some sign of recognition, some echo of the girl she'd once known. But Eva's eyes were different now, her gaze harder, her features more defined. She looked... polished, somehow, like she'd been honed to perfection. The realization hit Rory like a punch to the gut. It had been years since they'd last spoken, since Eva had fled Cardiff in the wake of that awful summer with Evan. Rory had assumed she'd never see her friend again, that Eva had left their lives behind to start anew. But here she was, looking... transformed. Eva's eyes sparkled with amusement as she took in Rory's gaze. "You look like you've seen a ghost," she teased, snagging a stool beside Rory. Rory shook her head, her eyes drifting to the barkeep as he expertly juggling three drinks at once. "I just... I didn't expect to see you here," she admitted, feeling a little lost. Eva's gaze softened, her voice taking on a hint of apology. "I'm so sorry, Rory. I know I disappeared without a word, and for that, I'm truly sorry." The words hung in the air, unspoken regrets and unmet promises hovering between them like a challenge. Rory's heart ached with a deep-seated sorrow, the weight of years compressed into a single, poignant moment. "Where have you been, Eva?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Eva's eyes flashed with a fierce light, her shoulders squaring as she took on a defensive air. "I've been doing just fine, thank you for asking. I left Cardiff for a reason, Rory. I needed to get out, to start fresh. And I did." The words stung, Rory's feelings of abandonment and hurt flaring like a fire. She opened her mouth to respond, but Eva beat her to it, her voice taking on a lighter tone as she clapped Rory on the back. "Let's catch up, shall we? I've got so much to tell you, Rory. So much." As the night wore on, Rory found herself swept up in Eva's whirlwind, her friend spinning a tale of triumph and hardship that left Rory breathless. But beneath the surface, Rory detected a different Eva, one who'd been honed by fire and tempered by adversity. The girl she'd known was gone, replaced by a confident, driven woman who seemed to have left Rory's small world far behind. As the hours ticked by, Rory's initial excitement gave way to a growing sense of unease. They'd been friends since childhood, bound together by shared secrets and unspoken promises. But now, it seemed, they'd grown apart, their paths diverging in ways Rory couldn't quite comprehend. As the crowd thinned and the night drew to a close, Rory felt a pang of sadness. She knew, in that moment, that things would never be the same again. The Eva she'd known was gone, and in her place stood a stranger, one who seemed to be moving through the world with a confidence Rory could only envy. With a sense of finality, Eva reached out and grasped Rory's hand, her bright blue eyes sparkling in the dim light. "It's been ages, Rory. Let's not lose touch again, okay?" Rory nodded, her heart aching with a deep-seated longing. She knew, in that moment, that she'd never see her friend the same way again. The Eva she'd known was a ghost of the past, a reminder of memories long buried. And as she watched her friend disappear into the London night, Rory felt the weight of years settling heavy on her shoulders, a bittersweet reminder of what could never be again.